Deviant behavior Essay Example for Free

Deviant behavior Essay The labeling theory and the social control theory are two explanations behind the concept of deviance. The labeling theory argues that society itself creates deviance by classifying certain behaviors or people as deviant. The social control theory, meanwhile, believes that deviance is a result of the failure of social institutions to enforce societal norms. Labeling and Social Control Theories Every culture has norms or standards that distinguish acceptable from unacceptable behavior. Actions or behaviors that go against cultural norms are referred to as deviance. To understand why some individuals resort to deviance, sociologists and criminologists first analyze how norms are created, modified and enforced. The labeling theory and the social control theory are just two of the explanations these experts have come up with regarding the nature of deviance. Labeling Theory The labeling theory argues that people assume deviant roles in society. No conduct or individual is inherently deviant – society itself creates deviance by classifying certain behaviors or people as deviant. Those who observe deviant manners acquire deviant identities by internalizing deviant labels that society imposes on them. Instead of finding the root cause of deviance, society will attribute it to particular behaviors or people (Kontos and Brotherton, 2008). Proponents of the labeling theory claim that the social group is the one responsible for deviance. It creates norms in order to differentiate conventional people from deviants. Norms, however, are detrimental in the sense that it does not recognize the difference between rule breakers or rule-breaking behavior and deviants or deviant behavior. A person is dismissed as deviant regardless of whether or not his or her actions actually violated any norm (Hamlin, n. d. ). The Stages of Labeling According to the American sociologist Howard Becker, a person undergoes three stages when he is transformed from being regarded as normal to being recognized and labeled as deviant. The first stage is the initial â€Å"public† labeling or the informal process of labeling that eventually becomes an official definition of a person as deviant. Examples of this are the shoplifter who is tried in court and is sent to prison as a â€Å"criminal† and the drunk whom the doctor or the psychiatrist diagnoses as an â€Å"alcoholic. † The process of labeling begins with just the doctor, psychiatrist and judge, and then finally spreads to the entire community (Slattery, 2003). The second stage involves the official label’s overriding of all the other statuses and symbols that a person previously had. Society will severe ties with this individual and deny him or her opportunities for advancement. The father who becomes an alcoholic, for instance, ends up being divorced by his wife and abandoned by his children. The ex-convict, meanwhile, is unable to buy a house or get a job because of his criminal record (Slattery, 2003). The third stage is characterized by the label severely damaging the self-esteem of the person involved. The â€Å"self-fulfilling prophecy† begins to take place – he or she may live up to the deviant label that society imposed on him or her by assuming a deviant lifestyle. He or she may also withdraw from â€Å"conventional† society by seeking support and status from other deviants who share similar lifestyles. An occasional drug user, for instance, may live up to his â€Å"reputation† as a junkie by going to underground bars and clubs frequented by drug addicts. The juvenile delinquent, on the other hand, may later become a professional criminal, in accordance to what society labeled him (Slattery, 2003).

Woodstock Music Festival :: essays research papers

WoodStock music festival, took place near Woodstock New York, on August 15, 16, and 17, 1969, and became a symbol of the 1960’s American counterculture and a milestone in the were often referred to as hippies and who characteristically rejected hartred and authority, protested against the Vietnam War, supported the civil rights movement, dressed differently, and experimented with sex and illegal use of drugs.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Woodstock began by four partners Michael Lang, the manager of a rock band, Artie Kronfeld, an executive at Capitol Records, and two capitalists, John Roberts and Joel Rosenman. Their original plan had been to build a recording studio in Woodstock, a small town in the Catskill Mountains that had become a rock center when musician Bob Dylan and a rock group called the Band settled there. To getout the word the four partners decided to have a concert, which they called WoodStock Music and Art Fair. The festival was expected to attract 50,000 to 100,000 people. After a long search for a large enough space, the partners eventually rented a field from a local dairy farmer, Max Yasgur, who owned land about 48miles from Woodstock, in the town of Bethel.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Early in the week before the festival, it became clear that the event as going to draw a much larger audience than expected. By the day before the official opening, traffic jams miles long blocked most roads leading to the area. On Friday, August 15, when the festival began, its management was unable to watch the estimated 400,000 or more people coming into and out of the field and decided to end admission fees. Sweetwater, the band scheduled to open the festival, could not get to the site because of the traffic, so folksinger Richie Havens, who was already there, began the festival instead. As a result of the audience size, volunteers from inside and out helped with any possible problems: Woodstock Music Festival :: essays research papers WoodStock music festival, took place near Woodstock New York, on August 15, 16, and 17, 1969, and became a symbol of the 1960’s American counterculture and a milestone in the were often referred to as hippies and who characteristically rejected hartred and authority, protested against the Vietnam War, supported the civil rights movement, dressed differently, and experimented with sex and illegal use of drugs.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Woodstock began by four partners Michael Lang, the manager of a rock band, Artie Kronfeld, an executive at Capitol Records, and two capitalists, John Roberts and Joel Rosenman. Their original plan had been to build a recording studio in Woodstock, a small town in the Catskill Mountains that had become a rock center when musician Bob Dylan and a rock group called the Band settled there. To getout the word the four partners decided to have a concert, which they called WoodStock Music and Art Fair. The festival was expected to attract 50,000 to 100,000 people. After a long search for a large enough space, the partners eventually rented a field from a local dairy farmer, Max Yasgur, who owned land about 48miles from Woodstock, in the town of Bethel.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Early in the week before the festival, it became clear that the event as going to draw a much larger audience than expected. By the day before the official opening, traffic jams miles long blocked most roads leading to the area. On Friday, August 15, when the festival began, its management was unable to watch the estimated 400,000 or more people coming into and out of the field and decided to end admission fees. Sweetwater, the band scheduled to open the festival, could not get to the site because of the traffic, so folksinger Richie Havens, who was already there, began the festival instead. As a result of the audience size, volunteers from inside and out helped with any possible problems:

How to Protect the Environment Essay

Character is a pattern of behavior, thoughts and feelings based on universal principles, moral strength, and integrity – plus the guts to live by those principles every day. Character is evidenced by your life’s virtues and the â€Å"line you never cross.† Character is the most valuable thing you have, and nobody can ever take it away. Why Character is Important Character in life is what makes people believe in you and is essential both for individual success and for our society to function successfully. Each individual must do his or her part every day by living a life of integrity. Integrity is adhering to a moral code of honesty, courage, strength and truthfulness – being true to your word. When you don’t exhibit integrity, other people get hurt. But you hurt yourself even more. When you cheat, your â€Å"success† is false. When you break a promise, you are showing that your word is meaningless. When you lie, you deceive others and lose their respect. All of those examples destroy your reputation and break the trust others have in you. Without your good reputation and trustworthiness, your relationships fail. Relationships and Success Relationships are the foundation for success in life. For example, when you destroy the relationships with your friends, you will have no friends. You will be isolated and alone. If a student promises not to cheat, but does, he is taking unfair advantage to put himself ahead of others without deserving it. He can ruin his reputation, his academic record and his job prospects forever. When a businessman makes a promise to customers and doesn’t deliver, he destroys his relationships with his customers. His customers go elsewhere and his business fails. By breaking your relationships, you break the foundation for success in your life. What is true success? For example, who is more successful? Someone who is famous and makes a great deal of money, or someone who has no fame, makes little money, but is a great parent? Today, in school, is too much emphasis being placed on â€Å"good grades† and â€Å"high test scores† – so much so that are these things, rather than good character, how we define success? Conclusion Your good character is the most important asset you have. It takes a lifetime to build but can be lost in an instant. Once lost, it is difficult to regain. Your true character is revealed when no one else is looking. Often, people decide to act based on short term gain, or an easy fix to a problem and end up doing the wrong thing. The old adage â€Å"you are what you do† is true. Failure to consider the long term consequences of your acts can be disastrous. By study and focusing on the importance of character, you will be guided by principles, moral strength, and integrity to do the right thing. Nothing is more important for true success in your life.

Impact Of War On The United States - 2723 Words

Izaak J. Rodriguez Professor Leon History 101 Impact of War on the United States Wars have impacted the United States greatly on both beneficial and detrimental standards. Throughout the history of the United States this idea of war has played a significant role in the emergence of this prominent country. A politician’s standing policy on the concept of war has held great impact on the political spectrum, many voters hold strong views on war. Some argue we should enact a policy of isolationism, through this we can focus more on the issues within United States instead of other nations. On the other hand many claim being in war is beneficial because we can hold impact on surrounding countries and though wars recreate revenue and jobs†¦show more content†¦When Republican candidate Abraham Lincoln advocated against the spread of slavery in the newer territories, the southern states were alarmed. The southern states opting to succeed from the north when President Lincoln was sworn in was what finally caused action from the north, beginning the Civil Wa r in 1861. The war itself lasted longer than what was expected, going on for about four years and only ended at General Robert E. Lee’s surrender on April 9, 1865 in Appomattox Court House. Positive outlasting effects this war held on the nation came from the changes made during the Reconstruction Era which followed the war itself. The Civil War is significant because it served to restore the union and reunite the confederacy with the northern states. The very idea of fighting in order to preserve ‘a more perfect union’ worked to establish sentiments of patriotism through the country. In addition, the amendments passed during the Reconstruction Era served as the first steps on the road of gaining equality for African-Americans. The 13th, 14th and 15th amendments directly worked to enhance the status of African Americans and other minorities. These amendments promised abolishment of ‘slavery and involuntary servitude’, it guaranteed citizenship to all people born or naturalized in the United States, and assured voting rights to all citizens. Amendments which later played a